On the day of departure, Thompson’s son and Love’s son came to say goodbye, and they promised to stay in touch and play basketball together often.
Gan Guoyang didn’t live directly in downtown San Francisco but settled in the southern Palo Alto to facilitate his children’s education in the future.
The suitable climate and environment here are very beneficial for the health of the elderly, and Gan Guoyang’s heart temporarily settled down.
Ah Gan retired, and the Supersonics and Ewing were naturally ecstatic as they finally got a chance to break out of the Western Conference.
In the Eastern Conference, Jordan, having led the team for many years, fell shortly after Ah Gan retired.
He suffered another major injury since the 1986 season, his knee developed inflammation.
Although it was not a season-ending injury, out of caution, the Bulls let Jordan rest, thus he missed half a season.
In the long run, the Bulls were correct to let Jordan rest as his attendance was truly astonishing.
But from the perspective of the time, the Bulls thus lost a lot of form and record, causing them to be surpassed by the better-performing Miami Heat in subsequent competitions.
By the end of the regular season, the Heat once again successfully seized the first place in the Eastern Conference, engaging in a bloody battle for the third consecutive year in the playoffs with Jordan’s returning Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals.
This time the Heat smiled once again at the end, defeating the underperforming Jordan 4:2—this year Hakeem Olajuwon and Drexler both reached their final peak.
Olajuwon successfully received the regular season MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, two heavyweight awards, and led the team to defeat the Bulls for the second time to enter the Finals, facing Ewing and the Seattle Supersonics who eliminated the Suns to get into the Finals.
Olajuwon vs. Ewing, known as the "Gan vs. Joe" alternative version, the two teams battled through seven games in the Finals.
Ultimately, it was still Olajuwon who was more dominant, blocking the Supersonics’ shots consecutively in the closing moments of Game 7, leading his team to a thrilling home victory to win the 1995 championship.
The top pick of 1984 finally saw his wishes fulfilled, and the moment he won the championship, he embraced Drexler tightly.
Pat Riley sat by the court, covering his face, trying hard to control his emotions, finally smoothing his hair, stood up, and returned to the locker room alone.
His long journey of revenge to win the championship finally had a somewhat decent ending.
Gan Guoyang retired, Jordan was troubled by injuries, this was Hakeem Olajuwon’s year, becoming the second player after Gan Guoyang to sweep the MVP, Most Valuable Player, and FMVP in a single season.
By the 1995-1996 season, Gan Guoyang showed no signs of making a comeback.
At this time, he held two main roles:
First, he became the honorary host of a temple in the San Jose Asian district, visiting there monthly to recite a few sutras and knock on the wooden fish a few times.
Back in high school, Gan Guoyang had met the host here once while sheltering from the rain during a game in San Jose.
After the old host passed away in 1985, his disciple went to Portland to ask Gan Guoyang to become the temple host, and no one else would do.
Gan Guoyang certainly couldn’t agree, he refused, and in the blink of an eye, seven or eight years passed.
Upon returning to San Jose, Gan Guoyang suddenly remembered this matter and went to the temple to have a look.
He discovered that the temple had never had a host, and his poster was still hung in the host’s room.
Only then did he learn that the temple had regarded him as the honorary host, making it their promotional project.
Because of this, they also raised a considerable amount of money for repairing the temple and the surrounding public facilities.
While speechless, Gan Guoyang felt that perhaps this was a part of his fate, and maybe he should accept this role.
In doing so, to transcend, or rather, to let go of the pain that death brought him, allowing himself to truly embrace a new life.
Thus, he agreed and really became the temple host. For a time, people came in an unending stream to burn incense and worship, making the small temple’s incense flourishing.
Second, Tang Jianguo hired him as a special advisor for the team, receiving a high salary, and could provide guidance on any work involving management, coaching staff, or scouting team.
At the 1995 draft, the Trail Blazers held the 9th pick, and Gan Guoyang personally attended the event.
He looked at the draft list and picked Rashid Wallace’s name without referring to any data analysis or scouting reports.
However, Wallace was taken by the Washington Bullets at the fourth pick.
Then, Gan Guoyang pointed at Kevin Garnett’s name again.
Ker, Garnett was picked by the Minnesota Timberwolves at the fifth pick.
Buckwalter then told Gan Guoyang, "Sonny, we can’t get any of these people! They’ve already been accounted for!"
"I know, I just think they’ll be great in the future."
"How great?"
"Almost like me in college."
"That’s quite impressive."
As the Trail Blazers’ turn approached, Gan Guoyang pointed to Michael Finley’s name with his finger.
Buckwalter asked, "Are you sure? Him? A skinny guard? Another guard?"
Gan Guoyang replied, "Just him, when choosing someone, don’t look at the position, look at the talent."
"What talent does he have? We haven’t even tried him out."
"He’s named Michael, isn’t that talent enough? Are you listening to me or not?"
Unable to do anything else, Buckwalter had to select Michael Finley. He knew Tang Jianguo was indulging Ah Gan, not wanting him to sever ties with the team.
He could choose whoever he wanted; once he picks a player he likes, he might get passionate enough to want to come back, which was Old Tang’s real purpose.